Iran urges all-inclusive Iraqi govt.

With a political deadlock in place in Iraq for forming a government, Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki says the Iraqi government should consist of all political parties.

Speaking at a meeting with Arab League chief, Amr Moussa, on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York, the Iranian minister said the post-election impasse in Iraq should be resolved through the participation of all political parties based on their weight within the government.

Iran’s western neighbor has been in a political limbo since the March parliamentary elections. Incumbent Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki’s State of Law Alliance, gained two seats less than Iraqiya, a party led by former premier Iyad Allawi.

However, neither of the two Iraqi political figures has so far managed to gain a working parliamentary majority despite months of coalition negotiations.

In a separate meeting with Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari, Mottaki discussed the political and security situation in Iraq.

“Iraq should be removed from the yoke of Chapter VII of the UN charter,” Mottaki said, adding that a powerful Iraqi government will be to the benefit of the entire region.

Iraq has been under “Chapter 7” sanctions since Saddam Hussein’s 1990 invasion of Kuwait. The sanctions have never been fully lifted.

Under Chapter VII of the UN Charter, the Security Council can take enforcement measures to maintain or restore international peace and security.